Most Favored Nation (also known as Permanent Normal Trade Relations) status was accorded to China in 1980, renewed annually by presidential order until 1989, when China decided to run over dissidents with tanks in Tiananmen Square. Public Law accorded China PNTR status, signed in to law by President Clinton in December 2000. This paved the way for China’s accession to the World Trade Organization and, ostensibly, granted US agricultural exporter’s access to Chinese markets.Now the Washington Post is telling us, POSING AS TOYMAKER, CHINESE MERCHANT ALLEGEDLY SOUGHT U.S. TECHNOLOGY FOR IRAN.
The article tells us, “The Chinese toy maker said he was seeking parts for a “magic horse,” a metal-framed playground pony. But the exotic, wildly expensive raw material he wanted seemed better suited for space travel than backyard play. His shopping list, sent by e-mail to a Seattle factory, started with 20 tons of maraging steel, an ultra-strong alloy often used in rockets. The buyer didn’t flinch at the price tag —$2 million— but he repeatedly insisted on secrecy. ‘This material,’ an associate confided in an e-mail, ‘are danger [sic] goods.”’
If Chinese firms are willing accomplices to Iranian agents, it is not without the knowledge or consent of the People’s Republic of China. Let’s be grown up about this, however. We should expect China to pursue its national interests, which apparently includes helping Iran to obtain American technology to use against Israel and (presumably) the United States. I seem to recall the Chinese —several of whom were associates of Bill Clinton and Al Gore— attempted to influence American elections in 1996, and according to the Congressional Research Service, actually acquired US nuclear weapons technology in 1999.
No, we get it. What we don’t understand is why China continues to warrant PNTR status. Are we that desperate to sell cucumbers to China? It sort of makes one wonder whose side our elected officials is on …
Z: just to throw in a thought...we need a president again who commands respect for our country...........not one who makes us look like DUPES. Great post, Mustang.
geeez
16 comments:
Public Law accorded China PNTR status, signed in to law by President Clinton in December 2000. This paved the way for China’s accession to the World Trade Organization and, ostensibly, granted US agricultural exporter’s access to Chinese markets.
Best money China ever spent.
Our economy is no longer ours. We are at the mercy of China.
Unfortunately, it was a Repub, Bush the Elder, who established MFN with China, and its all been downhill since.
Chuck's back and well...hurrah!
I was asking in comments "Anybody seen Chuck?" You were missed!
We are at the mercy of China, you're right.
SF....they seem to be 'killing us softly'...tainted baby food, poison paint, dangerous stuff.........to say nothing about this info Mustang found!
Man
Let's not be too hasty in throwing China under the bus. We are their largest market, remember, and the wheels will fall of of THEIR bus completely if we come to blows. If that happens, then the chaos that would follow could bite us. If we continue to gently bring them back to the level playing field of the international market from their current out of bounds position, they will remain a trading partner and not be inclined to launch missiles at our interests, since that would be counterproductive to their interests.
Yes, its going to take a lot of work. But slamming the door on China will have unintended and potentially devastating consequences.
Fredd, that's true, too. ANother commenter here feels strongly about your point...that THEY are dependent on US as well.
Maybe a president with dignity, respect and a real business background could help turn this around without slamming the door, as you say.
That sure isn't obama.
Spot on, Mustang. What is kit seems to me, is astute diplomacy. Whatever happened to strong statesmen in our diplomatic corps?
Chuck, if we are at the mercy of China, it is by our own choosing. I suspect "money changing hands" again, and I am disgusted by it.
SF ... IMO, there is not much difference between the socialist left and the Bush family. Look up the word RINO in the dictionary, and you find their family picture.
All of this makes me feel as if all of our politicians are of the same school. To them, it is just a game. The cost of this game, in terms of American lives lost and our national honor, has been too high.
Z .. Mao out-smarted us in World War II, Zhou Enlai out-smarted us from 1950 to 1960, and Deng Xiaoping out-smarted us in the Vietnam War until 1976. Our diplomats are simply lightweights. I'm ready for policies that favor the US, aren't you?
Fredd, no one is tossing China under the bus. The problem is OURS, not theirs. Our government is run by idiots. If this were not true, then we would have qualified persons serving as President and Secretary of State rather than Obama and Clinton.
We need candidates -Pres-VP-Sen-Rep et al- who have respect for the CONSTITUTION!--and the HIStory of this Republic - and who know the motto of 1776 -"No KING but KING JFESUS"
No more bows to the saudis - chinese - etc---
Carol-CS
that would be
JESUS-
time to go and hits some golf balls!!
C-CS
Gordon Chang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_G._Chang)
has some interesting thoughts on China vis-a-vis the U.S., the threat of war, trade imbalance and China's own internal stability.
"Our pal Russia"?
Forget China for the moment...this will really curl your hair. We're back into a cold war again with our Russian "friends".
Another failure of the Bummer regime. In addition to having the entire ME turned over to the new and rising caliphate. Seems like Obummer is...standing with the muslims.
Please...read this:
http://freebeacon.com/silent-running/
We don't have to worry about Russian submarines because I don't think the Russians are dumb enough to want America once Obama's finished with it.
@Mustang....
You're probably right.
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